The latest news stories of interest in the Rogue Valley and around the state of Oregon from the digital home of Southern Oregon, Wynne Broadcasting’s RogueValleyMagazine.com
Thursday, April 14, 2022
Rogue Valley Weather
Today– A 50 percent chance of showers, mainly before noon. Snow level 2000 feet rising to 2700 feet in the afternoon. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 52. Northwest wind 3 to 7 mph.
Friday– A 20 percent chance of rain after noon. Snow level rising to 3000 feet in the afternoon. Partly sunny, with a high near 53. Calm wind.
Saturday– A 50 percent chance of rain, mainly before noon. Patchy fog before 11am. Snow level 2300 feet rising to 2900 feet in the afternoon. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 52. Calm wind becoming west northwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Sunday– Mostly cloudy, with a high near 61.
Monday– A chance of rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 61.
UPDATE: Medford Explosion and Fire
The City of Medford released a few more details about the aftermath of the Pacific Pride Fire during a press release Wednesday afternoon.
The Medford Fire Department responded to a report of an illegal burn at 936 South Central (Carson – Pacific Pride) on Tuesday at 9:39 p.m. As of Wednesday morning the fire is out and crews are addressing hot spots.
Initial reports indicate that four buildings have been destroyed as a result of the fast moving fuel-fire. Seven businesses resided in the destroyed buildings.
Due to the complexity of the fire, which caused safety and environmental risks, Medford Public Works implemented multiple road closures.
As of Wednesday afternoon, South Central Avenue from E 13th St. to E Barnett Rd continues to be closed. Utility crews are also on site to assess damage and restore services.
Carson (Pacific Pride), a fuel station and the location of this fire, has contracted with First Strike Environmental to do an initial assessment of the scene and will lead the clean-up of hazardous materials. City crews are working to assess impacts to the City’s infrastructure in the area including roadways and storm drains.
The City has connected with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and the Environmental Protection Agency for further environmental impact analysis.
Medford Police Department is leading the investigation into the cause of the fire in coordination with MFD. MPD is asking anyone who may have seen something in the area of the fire to contact them at 541-770-4783, case 22-6203. (Source for pictures: medfordalert.com)
Another Marijuana Bust in Josephine County
On April 13, 2022, the Josephine Marijuana Enforcement Team (JMET) conducted a search warrant in the 1900 block of Southside Road regarding an illegal marijuana growing operation.
During the execution of the warrant approximately 2200 marijuana plants being grown in greenhouses were seized and destroyed. Additionally, approximately 1000 pounds of processed marijuana was seized and destroyed.
One worker was detained during the execution of the warrant for officer safety. The primary suspect is still outstanding.
At the time of this press release, the investigation is ongoing, and no further details are being released. Josephine Co. Sheriff’s Office
Online Forums Tonight To Help Survivors of Almeda and South Obenchain Fires
A variety of programs are being offered by the state and nonprofits to help those who lived in manufactured homes purchase or rebuild energy-efficient units.
In 2020, the Almeda fire destroyed about 2,300 residences in the Rogue Valley, including about 1,500 manufactured homes.
While many single-family homeowners had insurance, that’s been less common for manufactured homeowners, according to Southern Oregon Rep. Pam Marsh, D-Ashland.
“It’s been a much more difficult road to get those manufactured home parks back up and operating and to get people in new homes in those parks,” Marsh said during a forum she led Wednesday night focused on rebuilding resources for wildfire survivors in the Rogue Valley.
A variety of programs are being offered by the state and nonprofits to help those who lived in manufactured homes purchase or rebuild energy-efficient units.
Oregon Housing and Community Services will continue offering a forgivable loan program. While it was originally designed to help people upgrade older homes, Marsh said the program has been amended to be more effective for wildfire survivors.
“It will also cover the cost of installation, because we know that there’s a cost to transporting a home from someplace else, preparing the site, getting permitting, potentially getting skirting,” Marsh said.
The Wildfire Recovery and Resilience Account grant is being operated through Oregon Housing and Community Services and ACCESS, the major non-profit social service provider in Medford. The program offers funding for manufactured home repairs or replacement. It was funded by the Oregon Legislature and is aimed at people who are at or below 80% of the area median income.
The cost to purchase a manufactured home used to be between $10,000 and $40,000, according to Marsh. Now, she said, it could cost up to $140,000 because residents have to purchase a brand-new home.
The nonprofit, Energy Trust of Oregon is offering an incentive program for wildfire survivors to help with the purchase or rebuilding of energy-efficient homes. The manufactured home replacement program includes $10,000 to $16,000 in incentives for rebuilding.
An additional program from the Oregon Department of Energy will offer up to $12,500 in incentives for individuals who build energy efficient manufactured homes.
ACCESS is helping connect residents with the appropriate programs.
“What we’ve heard over and over again is an interest in coming back to manufactured home parks, but coming back in a way that’s affordable for people and recognizing that’s a big barrier,” Marsh said. “That’s exactly what we’re trying to address in these state programs.”
Representative Pam Marsh is hosting online forums tonight and tomorrow for people who survived the Almeda and South Obenchain fires but lost their manufactured homes. Those survivors can learn about new programs for home replacement assistance, energy efficiency, and fire hardening.
“Local organizations that are aiding the recovery process expressed the need for clear, consolidated information for survivors to learn about the opportunities and resources available to them,” Marsh said. “And because many of our fire survivors speak Spanish as their primary language, my office has teamed up with Unete Center for Immigrant and Farmworker Advocacy to host one of the two forums entirely in Spanish.”
Presenters will share information about eligibility, the application process, timelines, cost commitments, and contact information. There will be opportunities for attendees to ask questions.
Event in English: Wednesday, April 13, 6:00-7:30 p.m. – https://bit.ly/3N8YSa6
Event in Spanish: Thursday, April 14, 6:00-7:30 p.m. – https://bit.ly/3iJlPTg
We want to keep you informed about #COVID19 in Oregon. Data are provisional and change frequently. For more information, including COVID-19 data by county, visit our dashboard: https://public.tableau.com/views/OregonCOVID-19Update/DailyDataUpdate?:language=en-US&:toolbar=n&:display_count=n&:origin=viz_share_link
Oregon’s Unemployment Rate Drops to 3.8% in March
Oregon’s unemployment rate dropped to 3.8% in March, down from 4.0% in February, continuing its rapid decline of recent months. The March unemployment rate is well below the 6.1% it reached a year ago and is the lowest since prior to the pandemic-induced recession two years ago, in March 2020, when it was 3.5%. The U.S. unemployment rate was 3.6% in March and 3.8% in February.
In March, Oregon’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment rose by 5,600 jobs, following a revised gain of 9,700 jobs in February. In March, gains were largest in construction (+1,500 jobs), financial activities (+1,400), leisure and hospitality (+900), other services (+900), manufacturing (+800), and government (+700). The only major industry to cut a substantial number of jobs was professional and business services (-900 jobs).
Construction reached another record high of 117,500 jobs in March. Since March 2021, construction added 6,100 jobs, or 5.5%. Over the year, construction of buildings added 1,900 jobs, or 10.8%, which was the fastest growth rate of all construction component industries. Building equipment contractors also grew rapidly, adding 3,100 jobs, or 9.9%, during the past 12 months.
Financial activities employment was boosted by the hot real estate sector. Real estate and rental and leasing added 1,400 jobs in March to reach 50,300 jobs. Meanwhile, the more steady finance and insurance was flat at 56,700 jobs, near where it has remained for the past dozen years.
Leisure and hospitality cooled, at least temporarily, its rapid comeback of the past two years. Despite only adding 900 jobs in March, it is up 38,400 jobs since March 2021, which accounts for more than half of the private sector’s job gains in that time.
Professional and business services cut 900 jobs, but at 256,500 jobs, the sector was still near an all-time high. In March, administrative and waste services cut 1,800 jobs, after adding nearly as many in the prior two months.
Oregon Department of Transportation Reminds Supporters About Political Sign Placement
(Release from ODOT) With elections approaching, the Oregon Department of Transportation reminds property owners and campaign supporters that temporary political signs may not be placed on state highway right of way.
Additionally, there are restrictions for signs on private property that are visible from state highways, as well as time limits on how long signs can be posted.
State highway right of way width varies. In some cities it ranges from curb to curb; in other locations, it can extend 200 feet or more.
Political signs placed on state highway right of way may be removed without notice and stored at a local ODOT maintenance office for 30 days.
Signs are prohibited on trees, utility poles, fence posts and natural features within highway right of way. They also are prohibited within view of a designated scenic area.
On private property, temporary political signs are allowed within view of state highways under these restrictions:
•New signs are limited to 12 square feet.
•No compensation may be exchanged for the right to place the sign or the message displayed.
•No flashing or intermittent lights, animated or moving parts are allowed.
•Signs must not imitate an official highway sign or device.
•Signs are not allowed in scenic corridors.
More information about ODOT’s Outdoor Advertising Sign Program is online at www.oregon.gov/odot/ROW/Pages/Sign-Resources.aspx.
Google Plans To Invest More Than $50M In Oregon
Google announced plans Wednesday to invest more than $50 million in Oregon in 2022.
According to a release Google also announced plans to invest about $9.5 billion in offices and data centers and create at least 12,000 new full-time Google jobs across the U.S. this year.
“Google’s offices and data centers provide vital anchors to our local communities and help us contribute to their economies,” said Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet.
“As we embrace more flexibility in how we work, we believe it’s more important than ever to invest in our campuses and that doing so will make for better products, a greater quality of life for our employees, and stronger communities.”
Google has called Oregon home for more than 15 years, creating more than 200 jobs.
Under recent agreements with The City of the Dalles and Wasco County, Google will have the option to build up to two additional data centers near its existing site.
More employees have recently returned to the Portland office as the company began its transition to its new hybrid approach on April 4th.
“We’re excited to see Google welcoming employees back to its office in downtown Portland as it continues its growth here and across our state. Returning workers are critical for the revitalization and vibrancy of our downtown,” said Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler.
“Google’s innovation is part of the engine that powers so many other businesses and industries and we’re grateful for their commitment to our region and its future.”
Google also released the 2021 Economic Impact Report for Oregon today, sharing how it helped provide $6.2 billion of economic activity in 2021 for tens of thousands of businesses, publishers, and nonprofits in Oregon who used Google products last year to increase their online presence and connect with the people and communities they serve.
The Economic Impact Report details Google’s national and local impact in all 50 U.S. states, plus Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico.
Friday is the deadline to apply for a position on the Local Government Grant Program Advisory Committee with the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department.
An OPRD release said the eleven-member committee allocates funding to public park and recreation projects throughout the state.
They are seeking one county representative from east of the Cascades and two representatives of the public, one of whom represents a historically under-represented community.
Public-at-large positions may be held by a recreation professional or any citizen with a background or interest in outdoor recreation.
OPRD said the main function of the committee is to read, assess and score grant applications submitted to LGGP and attend a three-day grant application presentation meeting typically held in Salem each June.
An interest form is linked at: https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/GRA/Documents/LGGP-Committee-Interest-form-w-References.pdf
Call 503-951-1317 or email: mark.cowan@oprd.oregon.gov for more information.
Popcorn Recalled Over Allergen Concerns
The Food and Drug Administration warns that Popcorn that hit grocery store shelves in a number of U.S. states is now under recall due to possible contamination.
Snak King Corporation issued the voluntary recall after discovering that certain five-ounce packages of O Organics Sea Salt Organic Popcorn may have an undeclared milk allergen.
The recalled items were sold in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington DC, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, and Idaho.
Popcorn bags, which all have the “best by” dates of 9/24/2022 – 9/25/2022, landed on shelves in ACME, Safeway, King’s, Balducci’s, Jewel-Osco, Andronico’s Community Markets, Vons, Pak ‘N Save, Albertsons, Eagle, Carrs-Safeway, Haggen and Pavilions locations.
The UPC number for the recalled items is 079893 403038.
While a milk allergen may be seriously harmful and even life-threatening for people who are allergic, as of Tuesday there were no reports of illness.
Anyone who bought a now-recalled O Organics bag of popcorn is urged not to eat it, and to return it to the store where it was purchased for a full refund.
Consumers can call the company with any questions at (626) 363-7711.
Grants Pass Missing Person
The Grants Pass Police Department is seeking assistance from the public in locating 30 year old Noah Baker. Baker was despondent after an argument and left his residence in Grants Pass driving a silver Ford Fiesta with Oregon Plate 671MUR.
Baker is described as a white male adult, 5’09”, 170 lbs, brown hair and blue eyes and was last seen wearing black sweats, black shirt, black shoes and a black hat.
If anyone knows of his whereabouts or sees Baker, please call your local law enforcement agency or the Grants Pass Police at 541-450-6260. Reference case #2022-14203 Grants Pass Police Department
Klamath County Sheriff’s Office Asks for Public’s Help in Search For Trucker Suspect
The first real clue to come in on all the missing person cases in the area. Help Klamath Falls Oregon Sheriff Office ID this trucker. He was the last to see this woman alive and could be the key to not only solving this woman’s disappearance but a number of the hundred other women missing in PNW. IF you have any information, please call (541) 883-5130
https://www.facebook.com/pg/Have-You-Seen-Me-Southern-Oregons-Missing-People-161249961222839/posts/